Kanika Kapoor talks about her Bollywood and non-film songs, and tells After Hrs that she will also explore the Hindustani classical genre
In Baazaar, which hit the screens on Friday, Baby Doll (Ragini MMS 2, 2014) hitmaker Kanika Kapoor has composed a song called Chhod Diya, rendered by Arijit Singh. The track is unlike her other peppy and groovy works. Talking about it, Kanika says, “It’s a very new me. I’m expressing my emotions from my heart.” Before this, she had two super colourful releases: Thade Rahiyo with Meet Brothers and Cheater Mohan featuring Ikka. “Yeah, it seems like I’m attacking men again and again,” the crooner laughs, referring to the former that has lyrics like Banna mhaara selfish, dil haaye tod diya and the latter being about those who cheat on their partners. “I thought it’s an important topic that had to be addressed. But I wanted to make a cute, fun and family song that anyone can listen to. It’s relevant to men and women both,” she describes the track. With these releases, singer-composer says that she is trying to do something different from Baby Doll and Chittiyan Kalaiyan (Roy, 2015).
MORE NON-FILM SONGS
Though her first big track was a non-film one, Jugni Ji with Dr Zeus, Kanika hasn’t released much in the category so far. “I am doing that now,” she points out, “I have a Sufi song in the pipeline. Sometimes you have to do what your heart tells you and every time I have done something I’ve felt strongly about, it has done well.” Though she has a long way to go as far as her indie songs are concerned, she underscores the fact that it will happen soon. It’s also juggling her career, travelling between Mumbai and London, and raising three children that have made things a bit difficult for her. “I’m a self-made girl, so it will take time,” she explains. After Chhod Diya, she has another sad love song coming up. “I’m making a lot of new music,” she emphasises.
NOT JUST ITEM SONGS
Kanika is mostly remembered for her dance or item numbers but to her credit, she also has intense tracks such as Chhil Gaye Naina (NH10, 2015), Dar Da Da Dasse (Udta Punjab, 2016) and a classical song Abhagi Piya Ki (Tera Intezaar, 2017). “When I won an award in 2017 for Da Da Dasse and my name was announced, Karan Johar was like, ‘Huh? You sang this song?’” she laughs. “This side of my personality is also in the focus now. At some point, I will also explore classical music. It has to come naturally and I have to do justice to it,” says the Hindustani-trained vocalist. “You need to be extremely dedicated to that genre and practise for hours every day, but I got into the family way, so I couldn’t focus on it. However, I do want to give back to that form of music,” she says.
HER KIDS ARE HER CRITICS
The singer says that her children — Aayana, Samara and Yuvraj — find her Bollywood music ‘funny’. “They can be quite critical. And they have their list of people they want me to work with, and it’s quite a long one!” she signs off.
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